One the most important people on the world of philanthropy and business in America and beyond, Sheldon Adelson, will be buried in Jerusalem on Friday.
Adelson, who died earlier this week, made an indelible impact on Las Vegas and on Israel. His death has been mourned in both the US and the Jewish state owing to his immense contribution to those two countries, in both philanthropy and in the business scene, and by many in the Jewish world, with some calling him one of the most important figures in Jewish history, on the same scale as Edmond Rothschild and Moshe Montefiore.
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Jerusalem, his final resting place, owes Mr Adelson a great deal, as he had tirelessly fought to have it accepted by world powers as Israel's capital, ultimately achieving what many thought was impossible: witnessing President Donald Trump recognize it as the eternal capital of the Jewish people and relocating the US Embassy.
This accomplishment was all the more powerful because of Adelson's biography, having grown up in a poor Jewish family in Boston who faced repeated anti-Semitism.
As a child, he was told by his father that Israel was the only state the Jews had and that its security must be protected.
Several decades after his father died, the younger Adelson came to visit the country wearing the shoes his father had worn, in a symbolic gesture to his unfulfilled wish to visit. And now this place will be his final resting place.
Adelson's casket arrived around 8 p.m. local time on Thursday at Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
His wife, Dr. Miriam Adelson, his partner in so many of his ventures, told Israel Hayom:
"We are now in the country Sheldon loved so much. It is just hard to believe that he will no longer get to see it in his own eyes. This time he has come for his final resting place, not in order to search for a way to help and contribute. This is a feeling of great emptiness and loss, but also a sense of comfort, knowing that he is no longer suffering and that he will soon lie in the Mount of Olives, in Zion, next to some of the greatest people of our nation."
Israeli Prime Minister came to the airport to pay his respect the late Adelson on Thursday. Netanyahu told Israel Hayom, in response to a question on how future generations would remember Mr Adelson:
"As a giant and a Jewish patriot. His death is a great loss to the Jewish people."
Netanyahu arrived just after the casket was placed in the special VIP hall, the Fattal Terminal, one day ahead of the funeral in Jerusalem. He even solemnly stood next to it and touched it symbolically, as if placing a stone as is customary in Judaism, appearing to engage in thought for several minutes as he looked at the casket.
After the brief event, which had no speeches, the family and the prime minister left. The casket was also taken. Netanyahu also briefly chatted with Dr. Adelson, who introduced the premier to her family. Officials at the airport later told Israel Hayom that Netanyahu went to greet Adelson next to the plane, right after she had arrived.
The funeral will be held at a private ceremony in Jerusalem on Friday with several family members present.
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The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom. Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom.
